Excavating apparatus



July 15, 1941. R. s. WEIMER 2,249,070

. EXCAVATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l R. s. wElMER EXCAVATING 'APPARATUS July 15; *1941,`

Filed Feb. 16, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 15, 1941 UNE TED STAT-:ES PATENT i OFFICE `ElfsiCAvAlN G APPARATUS y.Raymond S. Weimer, Morris, Ill.

Application February 16, 1938, Serial No. 190,729

(ol. .e7- 135) 6 Claims.

'This invention relates to improvements to eX- cavating apparatus.

In excavating apparatus of the 'drag line type, the buckets employed are attached tov haul lines operated from a source'of powerfor hauling" the buckets to fill the same Iand are attached also to boom carried hoist lines by'means of which the loaded bucket may be elevated andVv transported to discharging position. Since the 4haul "line does not provide lrigid means by which *the excavating or digging anglev of the bucket can be controlled during the Vdigging or .llingoperation, the point of 'attachment of` thej'haul line, or itsY branches, have been so located as to avoid the forward upsetting or overturning 'of the bucket asY it encounters resistanceduringlthe loading or digging operation. Thus it has been common practice to 'attach the haul `line 'to` a bucket at opposite points above'the 'cuttingedge or points of the teeth and forwardly of the latter whereby when tension isapplied to the haul line the cutting edge orteeth willl be forced `into the earth, thus tilting the rear end of the bucket upwardly. This tilting` action -is limited to that angle wherein the points -of attachment: of the haul line, and the -teeth or cutting 4edge `of the bucket are alined with the source of the `-power or tension exerted -on the haul line. In order to provide points of attachment for the haul line which are located forwardly ofthe cutting edge,

it has been common practice -toextend the side walls of the bucket forwardlyv and -attach the haul line branches thereof to thosefprojecting ends at elevations which will determine themaximum digging or cutting angle of theA bucket. In some instances such projectingendshave been pivoted to form closure membersy or gates which Y have been designed to close partially .upon the forward portion of the load to prevent lossthereof during elevation and transportation tothe place of deposit.

Such forwardly projecting portions of the side walls of the bucket, whether integral with the walls or hinged thereto, add considerable Weight to the bucket which lessens its pay-load carrying capacity. Since such over-hanging yor projecting side walls are of cantilever form their use has necessitated the substantial addition to the structural weight of the bucket Vin so constructing the end portions so as towithstand the stresses and impacts normally encountered bilizing members arranged to cooperate with the.

` side walls forwardly of the cutting edge in lieu of the integral or hinged side wall sections above `mentioned .and attached to haul 'line' branches a't,.1;io'in'ts' forwardly of the bucket 'and 4so c0- oper'ating with said branches as to predetermine the Aexcavating angle of the bucket. "This pair vof members can be made lighter in .weightithan the overhanging sidewalls of the prior 'art where- .by Ia sturdier bucket' 'construction can .beVv employed of the same 'load-carrying 'capacity without increasing -the total load 'on the hoisting equipment lor a larger capacity bucketm'a'y be employed with like results.

'Another object of the Vinvention is to provide a bucket having 'relatively articulate forwardly projecting compression membersrwhichcdo lnot 4interfere with the free ingress ofv material -into the bucket during lloading and-which 'maybe so attached to thev hoist line branches or attaching means that "during elevation of lthe loaded bucket said members can be swung rearwardly Aagainst Ithe forward portions of the load to reduce spillage of the "load material. Such articulately `connected members being non-rigid'with respect tothe side walls of theV bucket do -not transfer-:to the bucket proper ythe'V full Y Aforce vof impacts imparted thereto in -use and hence the improved `bucket is more durable-in yuse.

An 'additional objectlof the invention is/to .pro-

` lvide articulate stabilizing members extending generally forwardly'of the bucket which cooperate with the haulV and'hoist line attachingrneans in retaining the bucket in load-carrying `position during elevation and transportation of the-loadto the place of deposit.

Other objects andadvantages of the present Vimprovements will be .apparent from. a consideration of the following specification and accomf panying drawings-wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of 4an .improved bucket embodying the vpresent invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View thereof.

Figure 3 is a side view-of a bucket shown in a predetermined excavating or digging position.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a loaded bucket in'elevated position;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of `a loaded elevated bucket;

Figures 6 vand 7 are modifications of the invention shown in the preceding figures; and

Figure 8 illustrates a further modification.

In the embodiments of the invention illustrated, the bucket I is of the flaring wall, rearwardly dumping type shown in my U. S. Patent No. 2,096,773, granted October 26, 1937, although the present invention may be utilized in conjunction with a Conventional vertical walled bucket. As shown in the drawings, the bucket is provided with side walls II, a rear wall I2 and a bottom wall I3, the forward edges I4 of which constitutes a cutting edge or lip and may be provided with teeth I5 of appropriate form. it will be observed that the side walls II do not extend beyond the cutting edge, in fact, in the particular form of bucket illustrated, the walls terminate at their forward ends at the rear of the points of the teeth which constitute the fulcrum of the bucket as the teeth meet resistance in digging whereby the bucket tilts more or less forwardly as indicated in Fig. 3. Insofar as the stabilization of the bucket is concerned, it is not particularly pertinent whether the forward ends y of the side walls terminate at, forwardly of, or to the rear of a vertical plane through the teeth points.

A iiexible haul or drag line or cable I6 i-s provided with attaching means such as the chain t branches il which are attached to the side walls II by eyes or other suitable means. Since the effective point of attachment of the haul line to the bucket is on a horizontal axis at the rear of the cutting edge or teeth points, it is obvious that should the teeth meet suicient resistance" in digging, the tension of the drag line could tilt the bucket forwardly sufficiently to overturn it. For the purpose of preventing such excessive forward tilting beyond a predetermined exea- Vating angle illustrated in Fig. 3, compression stabilizing members I9, which may be flanged bars or other elements of adequate stiffness, are articulately attached to the side walls and to the corresponding branches I'I. The means for.. attaching the compression or strut members I9 to the bucket side walls are shown as comprising connected eye members 20 and 2l, while other suitable membersor eyes 22 and 23 may be employed to connect the lower ends of the compression members I9 articulately to the branches I'I.

With the arrangement described it will be observed that as the teeth I5 enter the earth as the bucket is drawnvforwardly by the haul line I6, the teeth constitute an axis or fulcrum.

around which the bucket tends to tilt forwardly. With the branches I1 connected to the side walls on an axis above and to the rear of the teeth points, such tilting movement might continue, under conditions affording sufficient digging re sistance, until the bucket reached the position in which the pivotal axis represented by the eyes I8 were in a straight line connecting the teeth points and the source of power exerted on the haul line, in which position the bucket would be substantially inverted. With the strut or compression members I9 as shown, however, such tilting movement of the bucket beyond a predetermined excavating angle, as shown in Fig. 3, cannot occur. As illustrated in said gure, the members I9 resist tilting movement beyond the angle shown due to the connection of the same to the upper portions of the respective side walls II and the corresponding branches I'I which are taut during the filling or loading operation.`

It will be obvious that the weight of the members I9 is much less than the weight of the portions of the side walls of prior buckets which have necessarily been extended forwardly adequately to afford means for attaching the .branches of the haul line on an axis sufficiently in advance of the teeth to limit forward tilting of the bucket beyond a predetermined digging angle. With the present bucket the saving in weight over prior buckets can be utilized in added pay-load carrying capacity or in strengthening the bucket to render it more durable.

During elevation, the bucket illustrated when normally loaded tends to tilt rearwardly to loaddischarging position, the bucket tilting about the axis defined by pivotal connections 25, 25 by means of which the branches 26, 26 of the hoist line are attached to the bucket. The pivotal connections 25, 25 may be coacting ears, as shown, whereby the bucket can tilt freely to load-discharging position when tension on the haul line I6 is released since such pivotal axis of the bucket is preferably located forwardly of and below the center of gravity of a normal load indicated at C. G. in Fig. 4.

When tension is applied to hoist line 28 to elevate the bucket, flexible members 21, which are attached to the hoist line branches 26 at 2'Ia are made taut, that is, they are drawn from the slack condition shown in Fig. 3 to the tensioned condition shown in Fig. 4. Such action of the members 21 draws the forward ends of the members I9 rearwardly and inwardly against a forward portion of the load and reduces the loss thereof from .the forward end of the bucket during elevation and transportation to the place of deposit. The sections of the branches Il between the connections I8 and 23 (indicated at Ila) will likewise be drawn over a face of the load projecting beyond the end walls and reduce loss also as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

In Figs. 6 and 7 additional exible members 29 and 30 respectively are shown which cooperate with the members I9 and IIa in preventing load losses, members 29 extending between the forward edges of the side walls and the corresponding members I9 while the members 30 extend between members I9 and the corresponding haul line branch sections Ila. These members, that is I'I, I9 and 29 or 30 form a net-like formation which reduces losses from forward portions of the loads, -as will be seen.

Should the bucket be so loaded that the center of gravity is located forwardly and above the pivotal axis (2E- 25) the bucket will tend to tilt i forwardly but such action will be restrained by the parts andI arrangement thereof disclosed. When tension is applied to the hoist line 28 and the branches 26 thereof to elevate .the load, tension is also applied to the haul line I6 to restrain a normal load from tilting the bucket rearwardly to discharging position. During such elevation the haul line is, of course, paid out as the hoist line is taken in by the power means not shown herein but illustrated in my above mentioned patent. When the haul line branches are taut, as mentioned, .the members I9 are held rigid due to the connections, of the same at the upper ends to the side walls of the bucket and at their lower ends to Ithe branches I1. The bucket thus cannot tilt forwardly about the axis 25-25 under these conditions but must tilt, if at all, about the points 22'22. The axis determined by the points 22-22 is sufficiently spaced from the forward end of the bucket as to preclude asisti the forward tilting l,to load-discharging position by any load which'rthe bucketis'designed to carry.

While a loaded bucket is beingelevated, the hoist line carriedby the `boom (not shown) is taken in by well known mechanism 'and the haul line paid out until the'buckethas been moved upwardly and outwardly 'as desired and'swung plane through .the pivotal axis 25-25 of the bucket, the bucket will tilt rearwardly to discharge the remaining portion of the load.

It will be observed that themembers I9 Vthus perform desirable functions in the operation'of the drag line equipment, that is, by their length and the points of connection ofthe 'same to the bucket side walls and to the haul line branches they predetermine the maximum excavating or digging angle of the bucket during loading operations.; they cooperate with other portions of the"k apparatus in restraining both forward and rearward tilting to a load-discharging position during elevation and transportation of the load and they also cooperate with haul line branch sections l'la or in the modifications shown in Figs. 6 and 7 with members 29 and 3S, respectively, in reducing load losses during elevation and transportation to the place of deposit. It will be observed also that as a loaded bucket is elevated above the loading position, the force exerted by the haul line will be applied through the members I9 to the upper portion of the bucket at points substantially above the pivotal axis 25-25. Hence, less tension on the haul line will be required in restraining the tendency of the bucket to tilt rearwardly when carrying a normal load. The less the tension on the haul line, the more nearly under the boom point the load Ycan be elevated and hence such arrangement increases the effective length of the boom and the excavating range of the apparatus. Since the tension applied to the members 27 during elevation tends to swing the forward ends of the stabilizing members inwardly and rearwardly, the advantage in resisting rearward tilting afforded by the members i9 is somewhat reduced as will be seen. If desired, flexible members 3l may be attached to the ears 2li and to the branches I1 bucket tilts rearwardly "to the 4load discharging position, none of the rigging,"that'is, the'branch hoist' lines 2B, vmembers 21 or members'lS obstruct the yfree pivotalmoveinent of the bucket when tension on the haul line is released at dumping position. The load is thus f` quickly `and completely discharged from the bucket and away from the apparatus. {Since-the weight of the membersfl Sis consider- Vablyfless than the-forwardly extending` ends of g the sidewalls of the bucketof the"V prior art,

such saving in fweight can be takenadvantage i of in constructing an vimproved `Vbucket having greater pay-load carrying capacity without imposing additional load on-thepower operating mechanism. VThe members llg-lb'eing-,articulately connected to the side-wallsdo not "impart thereto all the stressesand impactsfreceived lduring normaluse 'as-is the case with integral projections of'the sidewalls. For example, when a forwardly projecting side wall of =a conventional l bucket strikes a largerockf the teeth of the bucket vmay be forced from the earth or nearly so. Where af flexible member, such-as vIla, strikes a rock,it' may be deected to one -side without materially interrupting the loading operation.

While certain embodiments of the invention `have beenillustrated and described for Athe purpose Vof illustration,f.it will bev apparent that variousfch'anges may vbe :made therein `without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

I claim: Y

l. A dragbucket .structure comprising a'pair y l-.ofiiexible haul lineattachingmembers attached at points more remote from the bucket, as shown in Fig. 8, whereby tension from the haul line will be applied more nearly in a straight line to the upper portions of the bucket as it is elevated whereby less tension will be required to resist tilting and the advantage above mentioned more fully attained.

Where a bucket having aring side and rear walls is employed, the hoist line branches preferably are attached to the inner portions of the bucket as shown in the drawings, no spreader bars for such lines being necessary. Where a bucket having vertical side walls is employed, the hoist branch lines may be attached exteriorly of the side walls, if desired, in which case a conventional spreader bar should be used. In the arrangement illustrated, however, when the to the bucket side walls, a pair of cooperating stabilizing compression members each articulately attached to a side wall of thebucket at a point above the point of attachment of the corresponding exible member for limiting at a predetermined angle the forward tilting of the bucket about the cutting edge by tension exerted on said haul line attaching members during loading operations, a pair of hoist line attaching members pivotally attached at opposite points to said side walls, and members extending from said hoist line attaching means forwardly and downwardly and connected at the forward ends thereof to said compression members for swinging the forward ends of the latter inwardly and rearwardly into confining contact with a forward portion of a load as tension is applied to said hoist line attaching members in elevating the bucket.v

2, The combination with an excavating bucket, of a pair of exible drag line attaching members attached to the side walls of the bucket, a pair of hoist line attaching members pivotally attached to the bucket for enabling the latter to tilt on a horizontal axis to dumping position,

a pair of stabilizing compression members each articulately connected adjacent the forward end thereof to one of said haul line attaching members and extending upwardly and rearwardly into articulate connection with an upper forward portion of the corresponding side wall of the .bucket and cooperating during loading operations with said haul line attaching members for restraining forward tilting of the bucket beyond a predetermined excavating angle and means operable by said hoist line attaching members for swinging said compression members into confining contact 'with the forward portion of a load upon the application of tension to said hoist line.

3. An excavating bucket comprising haul and hoist line attaching members, stabilizing members movably attached at the forward ends to said attaching members and attached at the rear ends to the forward end of said bucket'-I for limiting tilting action of the bucket during Vloading and whereby upon elevation of the bucket said stabilizing members are swung rearwardly by said hoist line attaching members into confining contact with a forward portion of the load of the bucket and transmit to the upper forward end of the bucket the force exerted by said haul line attaching members to resist rearward tilting of the bucket, and additional load confining members attached to said stabilizing members and movable therewith into contact with the load.

4. An excavating bucket comprising a bottom, rear and side walls provided with hoist line attaching means pivotally attached thereto at opposite points defining the pivotal axis of the bucket, said axis being located forwardly of the center of gravity of the bucket and also forwardly of the center of the normal load space so as to tend to cause the bucket to tiltl rearwardly for discharging the load over said rear wall, haul line attaching members secured to forward lower portions of the bucket, and members attached to said haul line attaching members at points forwardly of the bucket and extending rearwardly and upwardly into engagement with upper forward portions of the bucket for resisting rearward tilting of the bucket by tension applied to the same by the haul line attaching members during elevation of the bucket.

5. Excavating apparatus comprising a drag bucket, haul line rigging comprising a pair of haul line attaching members secured to the forward end of the bucket and a pair of stabilizing compression members each articulately secured to a side wall of the bucket and extending forwardly and angularly with respect to the haul line attaching members into engagement with the latter at points forwardly of the bucket for limiting forward tilting of the bucket during loading operations, hoist line members secured to the bucket, and members attached to and extending forwardly from the hoist line members into engagement with said haul line rigging for drawing the forward ends of said stabilizing members inwardly and rearwardly into confining contact with the forward portion of a load as tension is applied to said hoist line members in elevating the loaded bucket.

-6. Excavating apparatus comprising a drag bucket, haul line rigging secured thereto and comprising haul line attaching members and swingable load conning members each connected to forward portions of the bucket, hoist line members,` and additional lines having the rear ends thereof connected to said hoist line members and the forward ends connected to said haul line rigging at points adjacent'the forward ends of said load conning members and being of such length as to cause the forward ends of said load confining members to be swung rearwardly and inwardly into Contact with forward portions of a load in the' bucket upon application of tension to said hoist line members in elevating the loaded bucket.

RAYMOND S. WEIMER. 

